MADISON — When Charlie Fields became the coach of the New Albany football team last season, one of his objectives was to improve the Bulldogs’ defense.

On Friday night at Cub Field, the New Albany D showed it is making big strides. The Bulldogs recorded their first shutout since 2006 in a 10-0 victory over Madison. The Cubs mustered only 174 total yards as New Albany blanked them for the third time in 12 years. In fact, the Bulldogs’ previous shutout in 2006 was at Madison, 35-0.

Madison struggled against the Bulldogs’ frontline pressure, fumbling the ball five times and losing one of them. New Albany also made one interception, which was by junior Corey Grangier at the end of the game.

“Our defense is outstanding. It’s been that way all year,” Fields said. “I don’t know if it’s fixed yet, but it’s going in the right direction.”

As for the New Albany offense, it was a mediocre night.

The Bulldogs (4-2, 3-1 Hoosier Hills Conference) compiled only 209 total yards with 157 coming on the ground. After gaining 175 total yards in the first half, New Albany registered only 34 in the latter 24 minutes. As for New Albany’s ground game, it had 123 yards in the opening half, but just 34 in the second.

“We were fine. We just were not executing,” Fields said about the Bulldogs’ second-half offense. “In the second half, it was mental mistake after another.”

Fields thought his players were not playing to their potential after playing Bedford North Lawrence and Class 4A No. 1 Columbus East the past two weeks.

“For whatever reason, the kids were off tonight,” Fields said. “We’ve had two wars the past two weeks with Columbus East and Bedford, so I think we had a letdown.”

New Albany quarterback Michael Diehl’s first pass of the contest resulted in a score. The senior connected with Keaton Stout on a 33-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead at the 5:05 mark of the first quarter.

Two plays before the touchdown reception, Bulldog running back Tuwan Payton made a 30-yard run on a third-and-3 play to get the ball into Madison territory.

The New Albany advantage increased to 10-0 with 5:12 remaining in the first half, as junior place-kicker Vincent Falcone booted a 34-yard field goal. The kick capped off a 16-play, 87-yard drive that included five first downs, but also had four penalties for 35 yards. Two of the infractions were illegal blocks in the back.

Falcone made a key play midway through the fourth quarter to keep shutout intact. Preparing to punt from the New Albany 25-yard line, Falcone saw the snap go over his head and the ball went into the end zone. But instead of throwing the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety, he picked up the ball and booted a line drive kick that landed on the Madison 43. The Cubs (2-4, 1-3) managed to move the ball only 13 yards after that.

“Vincent Falcone has ice water in his veins. He can’t be rattled,” Fields said. “He had the level headedness to know what to do.”

Payton ended up with 139 rushing yards on 24 carries. He had 98 yards in the first half.

New Albany will travel to archrival Jeffersonville next Friday.

 

BOX SCORE

NEW ALBANY 10, MADISON 0

New Albany    7 3 0 0—10

Madison          0 0 0 0—  0

First Quarter

    NA — Keaton Stout 33 pass from Michael Diehl (Vincent Falcone kick), 5:05.

Second Quarter

    NA — Falcone 34 FG, 5:12.

Statistics

Rushing

    New Albany (36-157): Tuwan Payton 24-139, Diehl 8-20, Ryan Bradley 3-(-2), Jeffontae McClain 1-0; Madison (44-134): Mitchell Sandlin 20-80, Ethan Weber 15-51, Wayne Sherbahn 5-1, Jordan Partee 3-2, Dylan Bilz 1-0.

Passing

    New Albany (2-10-52-0): Diehl 2-10-52-0; Madison (4-7-40-1): Sherbahn 2-3-21-0, Sandlin 2-4-19-1.

Receiving

    New Albany: Stout 1-33, McClain 1-9; Madison: Partee 4-40.